Lidocaine spray in addition to paracervical block reduces pain during first-trimester surgical abortion: a placebo-controlled clinical trial.

Author(s): Karasahin KE, Alanbay I, Ercan CM, Mesten Z, Simsek C, Baser I

Affiliation(s): Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Ankara 06018, Turkey.

Publication date & source: 2011-04, Contraception., 83(4):362-6. Epub 2010 Sep 15.

Publication type: Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND: A variety of anesthetic and analgesic techniques have been used for uterine aspiration, and most clinicians use a paracervical block with or without additional analgesia. We intended to evaluate whether the addition of 10% lidocaine spray to a paracervical block decreases pain during cervical dilation and uterine aspiration. STUDY DESIGN: Seventy-seven patients were divided into two groups: paracervical blocks (PCB) (n = 30) and PCB plus 10% lidocaine spray (n = 47). Anticipated and overall perceived pain scores were measured with a standard Visual Analog Scale (VAS). RESULTS: Anticipated pain VAS scores of two groups were similar, however overall perceived pain VAS scores demonstrated a significant difference. PCB with Lidocaine only group had 6.56 +/- 1.43 cm mean VAS score, whereas lidocaine plus lidocaine spray group had 2.35 +/- 1.39 cm, the difference being statistically significant (p < .01). CONCLUSION: We found that 10% lidocaine spray safely decreases perceived pain during first-trimester surgical abortion, when used in addition to PCB with lidocaine HCl. Copyright (c) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.